Sakura took another step backward, her gaze fixed on Kurozai. A large wave of fear washed over her as the laughter continued.
"Uhhn? A human is... oh, an exorcist. This is where you die. I will make sure to kill all of you and destroy this verse." A red, blood-looking "X" began to form in front of him. He directed it toward Sakura, and judging by its appearance, it would be sharp enough to tear a human body into four pieces with ease.
Suddenly, Gojin appeared in front of Sakura. The red "X" dispersed a few meters away from him, leaving Kurozai momentarily stunned - nothing could take down that attack.
"Another one?! I guess that's two birds on a platter of gold," Kurozai thought, staring at Gojin, who was smiling as if he had met his favorite idol—he seemed incredibly excited.
"That aura, the power, and... I can't find the right words; you're simply incredible, Kurozai!!!!" Gojin shouted, his excitement palpable. Meanwhile, Sakura continued to back away, fear gripping her as if she had stumbled into a horror movie. Eventually, she collided with the wall behind her and fell to the ground, her eyes wide and trembling.
"Is the fool going to die?" she wondered, thinking of Kenji. Would his soul vanish while Kurozai remained in control of his body forever?
Gojin tilted his head toward her. "Stop being a baby and have some courage. He can't fully control Kenji's body because he isn't at his full potential until all his pieces are found and merged. That's when the most feared and menacing Celestial will truly return, and I will be there to bring him down."
Turning back to Kurozai, Gojin continued, "I'm your biggest fan! I never imagined I would face you like this—a Celestial, the one and only destroyer... after me. Let's go for a test drive and see if you're as 1% powerful as the history books claim!" he exclaimed, dramatically placing his hands over his face.
"I can't cause any damage to him because of Kenji, so I'll have to stay on the defensive while showing off a bit of my power to make a good first impression on my favorite Idol," Gojin thought.
In an instant, Kurozai lunged forward, a menacing grin stretching across his face. The sheer force of his power caused the ground beneath him to crack and deepen by about two feet.
Gojin quickly followed suit, launching his own fist forward. Just inches away from colliding, the force of the wind generated by their movements caused the cave's walls to crack and tremble under the pressure. Their fists met in a powerful collision, echoing like a thunderclap, and the ground shook once more, a wide crater forming beneath them.
As Kurozai pressed the attack, he unleashed a torrent of super fast punches. Gojin, however, danced around the blows with an unmatched agility, dodging each attack with ease. He moved like a shadow, slipping past Kurozai's fists that could shatter diamonds.
Kurozai's frustration mounted as he lunged again with deadly intent. But Gojin was always one step ahead, weaving and dodging with a grace that seemed almost effortless. Each time Kurozai thought he had him cornered, Gojin would pivot and evade, leaving Kurozai swinging at nothing but air.
The cave trembled with each failed attempt, rocks falling from the ceiling, but Gojin remained composed, a playful smile on his face. He relished the challenge, using Kurozai's aggression against him, turning the battle into a dance of sorts. With every dodge, he would occasionally counter with a light jab, just enough to keep Kurozai on his toes without causing any real harm.
Suddenly, in a moment of overextension, Kurozai lunged forward with all his might, while Gojin instantly shifted to the left, causing Kurozai to lose balance. In a surprising twist, Kurozai found himself kneeling on the ground, now resembling a table beneath Gojin.
With a triumphant grin, Gojin stood on Kurozai's back, celebrating his unexpected - No, at Kurozai's current shape, it was an expected victory. Kurozai looked up, bewilderment etched across his face as he faced Sakura directly.
"Look at this, Sakura! Now, in five seconds, Kenji should be back in control. "
"How strong is Gojin? At this rate, he seems to be a Celestial. Was that battle just child's play for him?" Sakura couldn't help but try to gauge Gojin's power level. He wasn't a Grand Exorcist; he was a special rank entirely.
Surprisingly, just as Gojin had predicted, the dark veins began to vanish, leaving Kurozai momentarily stunned. Nobody should have been able to take over his body, even at his current potential; it was simply astonishing. Did this mean Kenji might have some power over him? Of course, the answer was clear. What was the purpose of the ritual and the bracelet he always wore? But this might not last forever....
....
Seconds later, Kenji was back in control, prompting Gojin to jump off his back and throw his fists in the air, celebrating his easy victory. Sakura, on the other hand, began to regain her senses. She stood up from the ground, her gaze fixed on Kenji, who was still on his knees.
"You're back! Great! But what were you thinking, consuming the flesh when you could have killed the soul and taken possession of it? We could have found the remaining parts to keep them safe from the souls. But look at you now—you're a vessel for Kurozai!" She laughed awkwardly, holding her head in confusion.
Gojin turned around with a grin. "That's enough for today. We should get you to Sensei. They'll decide what to do with you: leave you as Kurozai's vessel and consume all his remaining pieces to finally exorcise him again, or just kill you, which I find foolish. The former option is definitely better."
Kenji picked himself off the ground, scratching the back of his head with a grin. "I agree with the former option because I'm also ready to destroy him at all cost as long as the world will be safe."
Gojin shook his head in disappointment. "All this rambling about saving the world from its own self, it just makes me sick." He thought.
***
Moments later, Kenji found himself in a dimly lit room, illuminated only by a flickering yellow bulb hanging from the ceiling....Confusion clouded his mind; just minutes ago, he had been conscious in the cave, and now he was here, disoriented and trapped.
Gojin emerged from the darkness, his silhouette sharp against the weak light. He waved dismissively at Kenji as he exited, leaving the door creaking slightly ajar. As the door swung open wider, another figure stepped inside—a tall man named Inosaki.
He had a lean, muscular build and sharp features. He wore a fitted black shirt and dark trousers, both appearing slightly worn but meticulously clean. His jet-black hair fell in a neat fringe over his forehead, and his piercing grey eyes was fixed on Kenji.
Haruto carried a sturdy wooden chair, its surface were scratched and weathered, yet solid. He placed it directly in front of Kenji, the legs scraping against the concrete floor, sending a jolt of sound through the silence.
As he settled into the chair, his gaze locked onto Kenji once more with a mix of curiosity and scrutiny. Kenji, chained to the ground with heavy, double unbreakable chains felt a wave of helplessness wash over him.
"What's happening? Where am I? What kind of transition was that? And what the heck is Inosaki doing here, acting like a detective?" Questions swirled in Kenji's mind. It also seemed like he knew the man all too well.
"I'm sure you're pondering the same things I am," Inosaki said with a subtle voice, a smirk on his lips. "So, which one are you now? The cute Kenji, or... Kurozai?"